The decision to remake Sense and Sensibility was a somewhat divisive one among fans due to the beloved, critically acclaimed 1995 version. Starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant, the movie saw Emma win two Oscars for her performance and her adapted screenplay.
Although the 2026 version, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and George MacKay, has opened to generally positive reviews, one of the stars of the original movie, Myriam François, sat down with HELLO! to share her thoughts on the remake…
The actress-turned-journalist, who hosts the popular YouTube channel The Tea with Myriam François, shared her thoughts on “so many remakes” in Hollywood. She originally starred in the Ang Lee version of the movie as Margaret Dashwood, the younger sibling to the two lead characters, Elinor and Marianne.
© Alamy Stock PhotoSpeaking about the remake, she explained: “I know for these actresses it's such a career-defining moment, so I really wish them every success with it.
“More broadly speaking - because I haven't seen the film - it’s a real indication of the death of imagination within Hollywood currently. It's not just Sense and Sensibility, but so many remakes. I saw Moana was being remade with human actors. We did not need that story! We had the story, it was fabulous; now give new writers and storytellers opportunities to give us new stories.”
© Getty ImagesShe continued: “As much as I love an adaptation, there are other Austen stories, there are other period pieces. From my perspective, looking at an industry that has sought to cut its screenwriters, that is trying to replace a lot of them with AI, that is convinced that you can just have a formula and apply it and audiences will credulously just continue paying to watch these things, I'm just anxious and desirous to see new talents, new writers, new stories that speak to our moment and allow new Austens to emerge.”
© Alex BaileyLamenting “B-rate versions of classic films,” she added: “Austen captured the real challenges of her era in incredible stories that continue to resonate. We're going through such a profoundly challenging period in our current era, and where are the stories that reflect that? Instead, we're left with a lot of pseudo-nostalgia and B-rate versions of classic films. Give us some fresh stuff!
© Alex Bailey“That to me is Austen's genius - she found a way to take us into the world of her era in a way that made us all feel what those challenges were like… I feel like there are limited amounts of budgets and films that get made, and I just really hope that we can start making films that tell the stories of the Austens and sensibilities of today.”
